Sunday 27 January 2013

Childhood memories

Last night Miss S and I went to a gig at Cafe Oto in Dalston. We went to see Damon and Naomi (formerly of Galaxie 500) play a gig in support of Richard Youngs...



It was billed thus...
http://www.cafeoto.co.uk/richard-youngs-damon-and-naomi-seaming.shtm

Unfortunately one of the acts (Seaming) pulled out. The video work never materialised. What we had was a lovely but short set from Damon and Naomi, followed by the most self indulgent cross between jazz and performance art imaginable.

Richard Youngs set was only bearable due to Damon's inventive drumming.

One song entirely comprised of Mr Youngs shouting "another sleepless night." While jazz drumming filled the room. With a little less shouting and drumming going on I began to feel he might have the insomnia licked. To be fair he did go on to say that it was unusual not to clear the room with 15 minute versions of their opening song "19 postage stamps"





Disappointing. Challenging. Different.

Friday 25 January 2013

iPhone

I went to the London bike show on Saturday as part of my birthday weekend. I expected to come back with base layers and a new helmet to be honest. But I didn't.

What I came back with was a lifeproof case for my soon to be out of contract iPhone 4. Not even 4s. 4.

I had expected I'd upgrade at the end of my 2 year contract to whatever apple had released at that point, but the cost of 4G contracts has put me off. I have a working phone which has apps to blog, socialise, navigate, communicate and track my training. I don't need a camera upgrade. What I need is to be able to strap this to my bike as a GPS. I don't need a lighter phone, it needs to be shockproof and waterproof. Like swimming waterproof.

So I bought a weather and shockproof case and a bike mount.

I also wasn't overawed by the super light racing bikes. Ok so the SPIN titanium bikes are pretty special. I came back resolved to get a brompton and go back to transportation cycling as my method of choice.

So I went to a market place for the new and ended up resolving to be more like my old self. Admittedly still needing to buy new stuff though. :)

Monday 21 January 2013

Half way there

On Friday I turned 40. There's no way to really sugar coat it. I am now in my fifth decade. This is very fucking old. When I was a child there was no such thing as the Internet, or mobile telecommunications.

Anyway. This means I feel the need to have achieved something in my life. I'm not saying I haven't achieved anything, but I really haven't achieved that much.

Nearly two years ago I cycled the length of the country. This is the kind of thing I should be doing. Exploring, or testing myself. I spent almost all of yesterday with a hangover reformatting this iPad. That is not cool. That is a very middle aged thing to be doing with my weekend.

I had a lovely birthday meal with the lovely Miss S and then she had organised a party and a day out at the London bike show. I got drunk. Very drunk. It was epic...

Thanks a bunch to all my lovely friends. I love you all and here's to many more years of silliness and achieving things that don't really matter.